510 PREHISTORIC VILLAGES IN TENNESSEE [ETH. ANN. 41 
any feasting in connection with the fire, all traces were removed with 
the ashes. 
The mound was then raised to its present height. Traces of two 
or three small beds of ashes, in different portions of the mound, 
showed that ceremonies, accompanied by small fires, had been per- 
formed at various stages of its erection. 
In the original clay subsoil, 10 feet east of the center of the mound, 
was a rifled stone-slab grave. It contained a few bones belonging to 
an adult, and also some belonging to a child about 10 years of age. 
It was impossible to determine whether or not both had been buried 
in this one grave. If so, they must have been placed in it after decay 
of the flesh, as the coffin, while of the usual adult size, was too small 
z 
3 
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Fic. 126.—Site of the public square, hothouse, and chunkey yard 
to have held both bodies if buried at the same time before the decay 
of the flesh. 
Usr or Mounp B 
The use to which this mound was put is not clear. If the adjoining 
town square had an arrangement somewhat similar to the ancient 
Southern Creek town shown in Figure 126 it is very probable this 
mound supported a building such as the early whites called a hot 
house. This hot house was used both for ceremonials and for other 
public purposes, especially in cold weather. It must not be confused 
with so-called sweat houses.® No trace of this building, if it ever 
existed, was found. However, it must be remembered that the age 
of the Gordon town site is such that all wooden objects have dis- 
appeared except those that became charred. 
° See Swan’s description of such a hot house in an Alabama Creek town in 1791, reproduced in this 
volume, p. 514. 
